Felix Kilonzo

As I reflect on my six-month personal retreat in Makueni County, I am reminded of the complexities of politics and development in our region. I have been silent for a while, but my observations have given me a deeper understanding of the challenges we face. Listening to local vernacular stations, I am struck by the biased reporting and propaganda that often dominate the airwaves. I wonder why Kenyan vernacular stations can't do professional and unbiased analysis and reporting. Why can't our political class accept that we have moved on from the days where lies were used to win popularity? My encounter with Cyrus Ndambuki, aka Cyro wa Kalamba, made me realize that progressive politics is a tall order. I have also been thinking about the development challenges in Makueni County and why it has lagged behind. My findings suggest that Professor Kivutha Kibwana is the right person to guide Makueni to its Canaan, but I know this doesn't sit well with others. As I navigate the compl...

One hundred and sixty-seven years ago today, brave women and men gathered in Seneca Falls to sign their names to what, at the time, was a radical statement: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal. Thanks to the movement that took root in Seneca Falls and continued through generations of tireless effort, women can now vote, earn and keep our wages, own property, serve in the military, and hold elected office. But our journey towards equality continues, and there's much more we can accomplish together. So today, I’m asking you to pledge your support to keep working for equality. Let's work together to build a nation where women earn equal pay, no matter the color of our skin. A country where women have the tools and support they need to participate in the economy, including paid family leave, access to child care, and the ability to make our own reproductive health decisions. Let's build a country where a woman can be president. ...

Dear Sir, I have been dreaming of a nation with huge freedom of the press... but what am getting from the Social Media today is shocking. Today, i enjoy the practice of my career not because it pays me but because thats what i Dreamt of attaining. i have seen the evolution of the media freedom in kenya through the last 15years to what we have attaine d in the recent past. As a journalist i am forced to pose this serious question, Is it necessary for the government of the day to impose turf rules and regulations to this field that involves self denial and compassion to undertake? Is the 4th arm of the government under threat and eventual attack? As a journalist who has worked in Both Kenya and Uganda, I have come to believe that however we embark on professionalism there are certain busy bodies in the leadership who would love to use the pre existing laws and legislations to hide their dirty profiles. At 24years i Managed to do many stories for my country and the region, I follow the ca...

When I look at the Ukambani region, I see not only unexploited potential but also the land that has been neglected since independence. I see a vast land full of fertility to feed Kenya and booster the fertility of the country. But successive regimes have left the region to waste since independence for reasons best known to them. The only question that begs to be answered is that, why Kenyan development agenda has has only revolved around the ‘who is who’ in leadership. Back in 2012, I spend my entire industrial attachment in the vast county of Kitui where I was privileged to visit the Malalani in Endau in the Mutito Sub-County where the century old conflict between the Kamba and the Somali has continued despite the existence of security apparatus in the area. What amazed me most was the fact that the area did not have GSM connectivity leave alone the outdated landline. I happened to represent the Ministry of Information in the DSIC (District Security and Intelligence Committ...

With lack of able and responsible leadership in the African Union, the fight against impunity and corruption may not be won. The recent utterances by African head of states over the ICC question is on of the very many problems the continent may continue to experience perhaps for the  next 50 or so years. From time to time we have argued that everyone is equal before the law in regardless of creed or believe. What I don’t understand and most probably will not agree is, is the case in the international Criminal Court a case between the PEV victims and the state of Kenya? Are the victims guaranteed of their justice if the cases are brought back home? Who does the Kenyan attorney General of Kenya represent at the ICC, is it Kenya or Kenyatta? The recent development of the ICC trials if put in to context show exactly serious the court is in the business of fighting impunity and the culture of some people being the so called untouchable. I was among those who pushed for the ICC pro...

What is democracy on the perspective of Africa? What is ‘the rule of law’ when it pertains the administration of justice in the continent? Who do we blame for the negative ethnicity that has divided countries into farther tribal cocoons? Africa has for ages been termed as continent of dark minds, tyrannical regimes, full of impunity and so divided. Africa has on a lighter note been termed as cradle of mankind. We as African continent have from time to time became slaves of few leaders who have always treated their countries as private entity that requires only them to rule till death do them apart. When I look at the Kenyan I government, I see a union of two major tribes that want to rule over the rest and fill all the government position with their tribal lieutenants. When I see this I ask, is the presidency the only way for the tribal chiefs to get recognised by those in power? It’s only in Africa where one’s name is an added advantage in the job market. Theref...

In the first part of this inside story we talked about the ceasefire and commitment of the cease fire documents signing Do you think recent attacks allegedly by Rwasa Agathon forces of national liberation (FNL) will affect the A tenuous peace reached in 2005? And Finally, what is the stand the head of the Government of The CNDD-FDD Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza on NL rebels who did not signed a cease-fire in 2005?   According to Evelyn the fragility of the peace is often threatened by the rampant rebels who have threatened the peace of the people of the country. She said in a one to one interview “I think the FNL only now does not have sufficient force to cause a release any BUT very sure that yes, the fragility of peace is already assigned!”, she adds, “I know not if you live here in Burundi but I'd say that there are no security.  People are killed from day to day especially those belonging to opposition political parties by whom it is said by the police, I ...